Menu

The pillow designed by Phillipa Turnbull called the Leven’s Hall Pillow has been one of my favourite pieces to stitch. A big part of that is the color scheme. The rich reds, deep blues and creamy golds are simply beautiful.

Whenever I get to the end of a project like this – a large project – and I’ve finished the last large area, or large group of motifs to be stitched, I always think to myself “I’m almost done! not long now!” and then, I begin to stitch…and I stitch… and I stitch… and I stitch… Well, you get the idea! Those little finishing bits always take so much longer to embroider than I think they will take!

The large stem was the last big area I needed to complete and embroidering that in Romanian couching was really fun! I’d only done that stitch once before and I really enjoy the rhythm of Romanian couching. The stitch creates a spine down the middle of the stem and I find that particularly pretty.

Then the only thing left to do were the tendrils of stems stitch and the outline of the whole piece. ‘This will be quick’ I thought. Ha! However, when it was all done, the stem stitch tendrils really finished the piece beautifully.

In the instructions it says to outline the piece using a long line of laid double threads couched down every 2 or 3 centimetres. I had fallen in love with the Reversed Chain stitch so I chose to embroider the outline using that stitch.

It makes a nice border and I love the texture of the Reverse Chain stitch.

Below is a photo I took while the piece was still on the frame, on the evening I finished it.

Aren’t the colors stunning! I am definitely going to make this up into a pillow with tassel fringe. I’ve even found a supplier in the UK that sells fringe I think will work. They’re called George Spencer and the fringe is on this page. I’m thinking the 413 range or the 707 range of colors. The 707 looks like it’s made of a wool similar to Appleton’s Wool in texture so that could be an especially good match.

Hi Kathy, your pillow is looking gorgeous. I love it. I am not so sure about the fringes though – they look a little heavy to me although it is hard to tell from little photos on the interweb. The 707 in a light gold colour to pick up on your leaves might be nice though. I am sure you will make the right choice.

I am pleased too that you are enjoying the raised work. I think it’s lots of fun and looks great too.

A very happy Christmas to you and yours and may 2015 be as happy and productive as this year has been for you.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment

Name *

Email *

Website

With Threaded Needle

The courses offered by “With Threaded Needle” were developed with four aims: 1) to provide excellent long distance teaching, 2) to embroiderers all over the world, 3) who wish to be part of an online community of embroiderers, 4) at a reasonable cost.
Course material is sent via email as a PDF so you can participate in a course whether you live next door to me or as far away as New Zealand. The projects we will create are designed for beginner to intermediate level students and help is only an email away! The cost for each course will always be reasonable, making a course with “With Threaded Needle” accessible to everyone. It’s possible to pay for your course in a single payment or to spread out the payments over the length of the course, with payments being as little as $8 a month.
For more information, click on the With Threaded Needle logo above!

Subscribe to The Unbroken Thread!

Email Address
First Name
Last Name

Search

Search

Categories

Categories

Archives

Archives

überlegen – to think, consider, ponder, deliberate

For centuries women have done needlework. It was a necessary skill, it was an accomplishment, it was a chance to appear to be active while giving ones mind free rein to consider, to think.
Calm, slow, careful stitches gave the appearance of activity, skill and usefulness, but the mind was free to think, to be quiet, to wander...
An unbroken thread of women, stitching quietly, their minds pondering, considering, thinking, deliberating...for ages and ages.